Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-05-20
LABOR MOVEMENT IN POLITICS


The rapid development of the labor move
ment MS factor in the politics Of the great
cities, indeed its rapid and growing proper
tons in the country suggests some import
ant inquiries as To the future course of the
Democratic party with regard to it.
1t will have been seen that the strength
of this party has been greatest in the large
cities. 1t has relied upon New York and
Brooklyn to overcome the majorities sent
down from the rural counties. At the West,
while the Democrats have not controlled
many States, they have relied upon the cities
as the centres Of their organizations and in
fuence. Much Of the time they have cen
trolled the municipal governments. But
this year they have been considerably dis
comfited. In Chicago the Democrats were
wiped Out" having actually placed no can
didste in the field. In Cincinnati, if we re.
member correctly, they were third in the
race, being beaten by the Labor candidate.
In Milwaukee the Labor ticket carried
the city, whilst in st. Louis and Kansas
City, the decentralization and defeat conse-
quent upon the labsr movement were al
most equally conspicuous.
1t cannet be denied that this condition Of
things introduces new and delicate con-
siderations into the choice of the next
Democratic candidate for President. In
1884 the problem was TO secure the help Of
independent voters Of former Republican
affiliations, and Of conservative business
men who were afraid Of change, though
they felt one TO be necessary The labor
vote-the poor mans vote-was looked up
ON as reliable" A heavy and unexpected
detection in this class came very near los
ing New York and the election for the
Democrats. The detection, all must admit,
has increased rather than diminished, as
shown by the vste Of Henry George, and
the wide spread independent action in the
Western cities.
There have been times when labor was
less generally employed than now, when
wages were lever and the necsssaries much
higher than at present Indeed, the wsrk
iRg people as whole are Just now better
off in many material directions than they
were during some Of the years when they
adhered tenaciously to one or the other par.
ties But they are dissatisfied with the ex
listing order Of things in politics, in govern
ment and society. They have witnessed
the accumulation OF enormous fortunes
through sharp practice bordering upon and
actually involving chicancry and corrup.
ton. They have seen menied aristocracy
push upward its mushroom growth in re.
publican America, creating distinctions and
supporting customs that were unknown
here in the earlier days. They have OBJ
served with mingled alarm and anger the
encroachmentt Of corporations and money
kings in the field Of politics, buying nomi.
nations, cerrupting elections, bribing public
servants and making candidacy for sffice
so expensive as 10 bar cut psor men, thus
creating Putscracy within the Republic
Thus 1t would seem that labor has rea
and renedial grievances, 10 which the old
parties are not giving due attention. Ii
wide. spread and powerful revolt proves this
Such effects must have an adequate cause
One thing has been effectively demonstrated
in the progress Of the labor movement il
this country, and that is that labor can onl,
carry its points by sdhering to Amer
can ideas and working through American
msthods. Their notions as to property
the substition Of the bomb for the bale
and the raising Of the red nag has brough
distress and defeat in the past as it will
bring disaster in the future.
A great and leading Democratic organ
has emphasized the declaration that th,
labor movement in politics is the out
growth OF the feeling that eur laws and the
conditions of life created by them are nc
longer equal, that the Government is con
Quoted in the interest Of the rich and tn,
privileged, and that the old parties are eithe
unwilling or impotent To remedy this injus
tice and correct existing evils Aad til,
prevalence and permanence Of this revolt o
labor will depend upon what shall be done
and doae speedily, TO remove all just cass,
of complaint"
The Democratic party has ever been ia
sympathy with labor--ever its friend anu
champion, and in this important crisis i
should ignore all associations with Mug
wumps. march TO the front and aid the labs
element 10 correcting the evils of which
it complains aud thereby make it friend